Chapter 92

Suzuki had taken out two objects and held them out: one meant for Kurama and the other for Kuwabara.

"These two items are my gifts to you," said Suzuki.

The items were a hilt and a bottle of liquid with some kind of fruit in it, the hilt given to Kuwabara and the bottle of liquid given to Kurama.

"Could you elaborate?" asked Kurama.

"Yeah, who cares about a fancy ruler?" Kuwabara agreed.

"It's a hilt, amateur. These were the starting points for two items I gave to my own team," Suzuki explained. "The bottle, Kurama, contains the Fruit of the Previous Life, hand picked from the upper realms of Demon World as it was recently discovered."

Kurama looked from Suzuki to the bottle he held in his hand as Suzuki continued.

"It was from just a fruit that Ura Urashima derived the smoke for his Idunn Box," Suzuki continued. "And drinking that will produce the same dreamy effect of turning you into your demon form."

Suzuki had addressed Kuwabara a moment later.

"And that one is call the Trial Sword," Suzuki explained. "Made from a Japanese Ceder that grew to great heights by sucking up the surrounding life."

"That sounds really creepy- I don't want to hold that!" Kuwabara exclaimed.

Kuwabara tossed the hilt to Suzuki who had caught it.

"For Shishiwakamaru, it became the Banshee Shriek," Suzuki stated. "But for you it should be quite different, and probably without the demons."

Suzuki had tossed the hilt back to Kuwabara who fumbled at catching it.

"Allow me the pleasure of a few more words, and I'll give you a warning," said Suzuki. "This fight was the first time those darling items were used. I can't tell you exactly how they work or what side effects they could have upon their user."

"So we're guinea pigs now?" Kuwabara remarked.

"It's all up to you whether you want to use the help or not, now cheerio," said Suzuki.

Suzuki had turned to leave when Kurama had spoken up.

"Why on earth do you want to help us?" asked Kurama.

"Because I dislike you, but I hate Toguro, " Suzuki replied, pausing for a moment. "It only took three percent of his repulsive strength to make a fool out of me."

Suzuki looked down as he recalled the incident.

"I was young- hadn't realized my greatness couldn't grant me everything like it should," said Suzuki. "I went to pieces at his feet, pleading for my life!"

"I only kill true fighters and job assignments," Y. Toguro sneered. "You're neither. So run along."

"The insult to my pride was death enough," said Suzuki. "Of course, I brought it on myself for not taking note of the advice Etsu and Kiyoko gave to me about not taking on too much than I could handle."

"Wise advise," said Kurama.

"Yeah," Kuwabara agreed.

"I've felt like a complete fool, but I did do what they said about improving myself and spent decades refining my techniques and collected every enchanted item that I could," Suzuki continued. "I changed my appearance and even helped assemble a tournament team. But you easily beat me before I could reach him. And I see it wasn't meant to be."

Suzuki suddenly turned to face Kurama and Kuwabara.

"But if my own body can't beat him, then at least my items can!" Suzuki declared. "I want you to show him that ingenuity and sophistication can win over strength! Change his mind. Show him that underdogs can win."

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Etsu and Koenma had reached where Yusuke was, but before approaching the grieving teen, Etsu questioned Koenma if was a good idea to bother him as she felt bad for him.

"I don't know about this, Koenma," said Etsu. "Are you sure that speeding up his grieving process is such a good idea? It could cause more harm than help."

"This is no time to be sympathetic, Etsu," Koenma replied. "You know as well as I do that the tournament officials will not be empathetic and postpone the finals over a recent loss."

Etsu didn't say anything as she knew that Koenma had a point, but he didn't make it any better as he continued his lecture.

"Neither time nor fate, destiny, or whatever you want to call it will not wait for anyone," Koenma continued. "You, Kiyoko, and I being from Spirit World were taught this and more."

"Stop lecturing me of what I already know," Etsu snapped. "We may have been taught many things about life, death, and all of the important things, but it benefits to have at least a little sympathy every now and then."

Koenma decided to not argue with Etsu as he went ahead to approach Yusuke while Etsu stayed put to observe. Yusuke, sitting in front of the cave, was not fooled as he had heard Koenma's footsteps from behind him and called him out which surprised Koenma.

"What do you want, Koenma?" asked Yusuke.

"Hey, I always surprise you!" Koenma exclaimed.

"I'm not in the mood for your stupid gags," said Yusuke.

"Yes, neither is Botan," said Koenma. "Makes it very hard to function these days."

Koenma paused and continued a moment later.

"Actually, it's a real pity. Botan is just too depressed to preform the duties that are expected of her," Koenma continued. "I'm sure if Genkai were still here, she'd call Botan a big whiny-baby and give her a much needed slap in the face."

Yusuke closed his eyes with his head down as he replied a moment later.

"I should've woken up right when she left the hotel," said Yusuke, Koenma suddenly looking down at him. "I know I could've stopped her."

"How'd she pick such a moron apprentice?" Koenma remarked.

Yusuke was surprised, became enraged as he had gotten up, and confronted Koenma while grabbing him by his red scarf.

"Who you callin' "moron", pacifier junkie?!" Yusuke yelled.

"They spent the majority of their lives consumed with each other. A young fighter and her role model, two teammates, two bitter enemies- whatever term they happened to be on, they were always opposite magnets on a life-long crash course," said Koenma. "Genkai came here knowing she would die, and Toguro came knowing he would kill her. How were you, a kid whose mother wasn't even born when this conflict began, planning to interfere with this dispute?"

Yusuke didn't know what to say as he was still grabbing Koenma by his red scarf.

"So, you gonna let go?" asked Koenma. "Or are we just going to stand here to do the tango?"

Yusuke shoved Koenma away and returned to sit down in front of the cave, continuing to mourn.

"Why did you go?" Yusuke cried.

While Koenma was thinking to himself by questioning if Yusuke's final ordeal was mourning over Genkai's death, Etsu walked passed her brother as she had stepped in to comfort Yusuke.

"Don't blame yourself, Yusuke," said Etsu, kneeling down on one knee and placing a hand on his shoulder. "What happened wasn't your fault."

"I know that you're trying to make me feel better, Etsu," said Yusuke, suddenly shaking Etsu's hand off his shoulder. "But I don't need your pity."

"Why do you assume that I'm pitying you when it's such a negative word?" asked Etsu. "It implies that I'm better than you which isn't the case?"

"Isn't it?" Yusuke answered with a question. "You, Kiyoko, and Koenma are from Spirit World and aren't bothered about things like death."

"That's not true, Yusuke," said Etsu. "Kiyoko and I have had plenty of struggles while Koenma just had to worry about finishing paperwork in the safety of his office."

"Hey, I've had struggles, too, Etsu!" Koenma protested. "You may not think so, but I did and still do!"

Rather than to respond to Koenma, Etsu decided to ignore him as she continued.

"I know these things aren't easy, and I understand that," Etsu continued. "But Genkai wouldn't want you to-"

Yusuke snapped as he turned to confront Etsu to get her to back off.

"Like hell you know what Genkai would or wouldn't want!" Yusuke interrupted. "You say that you understand, do you really?!"

"What did you say?" asked Etsu, surprised.

"You heard me!" Yusuke snapped. "You're from Spirit World where life and death was an everyday thing and crap!"

'Oh no, this isn't good,' thought Koenma. 'Yusuke's letting his grief get the best of him and is saying things he doesn't mean.'

"I see how it is," said Etsu. "You think that Genkai's death didn't bother me, because I'm somehow desensitized or something since I'm from Spirit World?"

'Don't say anything else you'll regret, Yusuke,' thought Koenma. 'Etsu's emotionally vulnerable right now and can't tell that you don't mean what you're saying.'

Before Yusuke got the chance to respond, Etsu had grabbed him by the collar of his shirt as Yusuke stared at her with a pissy expression on his face.

"Listen here, dick-wad, you don't know shit about me!" Etsu shouted. "You're just spouting bullshit because you're blinded by grief, but let me tell you something: crying and being a little bitch won't bring the dead back to life no matter what!"

'And she said for me to not be hard on him?!' though Koenma, George freaking out behind him 'I just hope Yusuke knows well to not say anything stupid.'

"This is new even for you since I'd expect this kind of reaction from Kiyoko," Yusuke remarked. "What is it, that time of the month for you or something?"

Koenma cringed as Etsu had punched Yusuke to the ground, Yusuke spiting up a bit of blood. Yusuke had gotten up, wiped the blood from his mouth, and got ready to fight as he took it as a challenge.

"Oh, so you wanna fight now, bitch?!" Yusuke exclaimed. "Well, you better watch out, because I'm gonna kick your ass!"

"Oh no, I need to do something!" Koenma panicked

Koenma attempted to break it up, but ended up getting hit by Yusuke.

"Stay the hell away, Koenma!" Yusuke snapped. "This is between me and Etsu."

To humor him, Etsu had beckoned Yusuke and he smirked as he thought she let him be the one to make the first move. He went to give her a right hook, but missed as she had easily dodged and kneed him in the abdomen, Yusuke falling onto the ground in pain as he clutched at his stomach.

"Be grateful that I held back," said Etsu.

"Nah, that was just a lucky shot," Yusuke bluffed, forcing himself up. "And it didn't hurt at all!"

'Who are you trying to fool, Yusuke?' thought Koenma. 'We all know you're bluffing.'

When Koenma saw Etsu smirk and Yusuke smirking back at her, he started to freak out as he thought that the situation was going too far, but couldn't stop it by himself as the bruise on his face had proved as much.

'Maybe I can have Hiei to get them to stop,' thought Koenma.

Unfortunately for Koenma, Hiei had gotten wind of the situation with his Jagan Eye and laughed in amusement. He then contacted Koenma through telepathy by telling him to let them be since it would actually help them with their grieving.

"But Etsu doesn't even know her own strength!" Koenma exclaimed. "For all we know, she could accidentally kill Yusuke!"

"Hn, she's smarter than you give her credit for," said Hiei. "Why do you think she's holding back?"

"But that doesn't mean that this will help with their grieving," said Koenma. "Well, maybe it'll help for Etsu, but it's not guaranteed that it'll help Yusuke."

"Hn, that just means he's a fool," said Hiei. "Just stay back and let them sort it out themselves so you won't get yourself hurt."

Koenma was about to respond, but Hiei had cut off contact and had no choice but to watch Etsu and Yusuke duke it out.

"Hey, what's wrong?" asked Yusuke, smirking. "Having second thoughts?"

"I was about to ask you the same thing," Etsu replied. "You know, since the finals are tomorrow and I don't want to risk you getting hurt too bad."

"The finals is the last thing on my mind!" Yusuke shouted. "Bring it on and don't hold back!"

"No... no... no, Yusuke!" Koenma exclaimed. "You don't know what you're getting yourself into!"

"Shut up, Koenma!" Yusuke snapped. "I know exactly what I'm doing!"

"Pretty much doubt that," Etsu remarked. "But if that's what you want, then don't say you weren't warned."

Etsu powered more Spirit Energy behind her fists and went to punch Yusuke multiple times, but made sure that she didn't hurt him too bad. Yusuke tried his best to block her punches, but failed to block some of them. He found an opening to attack her, but attemped to grope her to catch her off guard when Etsu grabbed his wrists as she had saw it coming. She had a tight hold of his wrists as she forced his arms behind his back, Yusuke yelling out in pain.

"Did you honestly think that would work?" asked Etsu. "I should really knock the living shit out of your perverted ass!"

Yusuke started laughing which didn't surprise Etsu in the least.

"Well, it was worth a shot," Yusuke laughed. "It's hard to look and not touch."

Yusuke managed to get out of Etsu's grip by suddenly knocking the back of his head against her face, Etsu letting go of him as she instinctively placed a hand on her face where she was hit. He didn't waste anytime thinking about his hurt wrists as he had managed to land a couple punches to her face, chest, and stomach. Etsu didn't care that Yusuke manged to landed some punches to her face and chest, but being punched in the stomach had crossed the line as it had reminded her of what she recently lost and became pissed off. She countered attacked by punching him with plenty of Spirit Energy behind them and delivered a painful kick to his abdomen, Yusuke screaming as he felt the full force of her kick. He gasped for a moment as he groaned in pain while in a fetal position, but still acted as if it didn't bother him.

"I may look like I'm in pain, but I'm not actually hurt," Yusuke bluffed. "I'm still gonna kick your ass."

"Then, get up if you think so," Etsu dared. "I don't have all day."

"You're asking for it," said Yusuke, getting up slowly. "You don't know what I'm capable of."

"Oh, I know what you're capable of," said Etsu. "You just don't seem to be close to be ready yet."

"Oh yeah?" asked Yusuke, finally back on his feet. "Try saying that after I'm done!"

While Yusuke began charging towards her, Etsu noticed that he was charging his Spirit Energy into an attack and decided to charge one of her attacks to finish the fight. As they charged at each other, they had gotten themselves ready and attacked. Yusuke had shot his Spirit Gun, but became surprised when Etsu dodged just in time as she had came at him with her crystal attack.

"Oh, crap," said Yusuke.

Etsu had landed her crystal attack to Yusuke's chest, the attack being a rapidly spinning Crystal Star brimming with electricity. Yusuke screamed in pain as he felt like he was being electrocuted and it triggered a memory of a former fight as it felt familiar. Koenma looked in horror as the situation looked similar, but brushed off a passing thought as he knew it wasn't possible. It was just a coincidence, right?

"What's going on?!" a voice exclaimed.

Koenma turned to see that it was Kiyoko approaching him with Suzuki following right behind her.

"Kiyoko, you've got to stop them," Koenma pleaded. "Etsu tried to comfort Yusuke, but he just hurled some words he didn't mean and it just spiraled out of control!"

Kiyoko looked at Etsu and Yusuke and shook her head.

"There's nothing I can do, Koenma," said Kiyoko.

"What do you mean?!" Koenma exclaimed. "Do you know how serious this is?!"

"Of course I do!" Kiyoko snapped. "What I mean is that it's almost over."

Koenma was relieved when Etsu's attack seemed to let up, but became alarmed when Yusuke collapsed onto the ground and was about to run to them until Kiyoko stopped him.

"Don't, Koenma," said Kiyoko. "Everything's okay."

Etsu became jittery all of a sudden as she hoped she didn't kill Yusuke even though she made sure her last attack wasn't lethal. She didn't intend to use that much electricity in her attack, but it was an attack she hadn't used before as it was out of impulse. It didn't feel like any of her other attacks as it felt oddly foreign to her, but didn't to think much about it as Yusuke saying something before passing out had gotten her attention.

"Genkai," Yusuke said to himself. "If only got there sooner."

Tears welled up in Yusuke's eyes, fell down his face, and passed out a moment later.

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Kiyoko didn't stray too far from where she left Kurama, Kuwabara, and Suzuki as she felt bad for being angry with Kurama.

'Maybe I've overreacted a little bit. The finals are tomorrow and-,' thought Kiyoko, suddenly shaking her head. 'No, there's no excuse for him to get so jealous and overprotective like that! He knows good and well that I can take care of myself and is loyal to him!'

Suzuki had left Kurama and Kuwabara a couple of moments after giving them the items he knew they needed to help them get through the finals, but stopped when he saw Kiyoko pacing back and forth while deep in thought. Not in any hurry to get back to the hospital and needing to give her and Etsu and item anyway, he had approached Kiyoko and she snapped out of her thoughts when he placed a hand on her shoulder.

"Suzuki," started Kiyoko. " I mean-,"

"Don't worry about putting a "Beautiful" before my name," said Suzuki. "Remember I said that it wouldn't bother me if you didn't."

"Right," said Kiyoko.

"If you're worried about chewing out Kurama, don't beat yourself up over it," said Suzuki. "You're both going through a lot and I'd be surprised if it didn't create any tension between you."

"I know, but it doesn't help that he tries to take on everything by himself!" Kiyoko complained. "He also knows that I can take care of myself and everything, but he just can't help but to worry so much!"

"Well, I'd be the same way if the woman I loved were to be a prize for Toguro," said Suzuki. "It would probably make Kurama and Hiei feel better if both you and Etsu could fight along side them so they wouldn't have to fight for your freedom for you."

"Yeah- wait, how did you know about that?" asked Kiyoko. "Nobody else was supposed to know."

"As humans would say: it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure it out," Suzuki replied. "Toguro does collect fighters he thinks are worthy after all."

"Yeah, you have a point," Kiyoko agreed.

"I did give him and Kuwabara each an enchanted item to help them out for tomorrow's finals," said Suzuki. "Though, you should consider making up with Kurama and still help him train for tomorrow's finals."

"I was just thinking about doing that," said Kiyoko.

"Before you do, I have something to give you and Etsu," started Suzuki. "It's to help-"

Suzuki didn't get to finish as both he and Kiyoko suddenly sensed Etsu's and Yusuke's Spirit Energy clashing against each other. Kiyoko had also sensed that Etsu was in an extremely pissed off mood and became concerned as she knew how easily pissed off she could get on a bad day.

"Oh shit, Yusuke must've said something stupid to piss her off!" Kiyoko exclaimed. "He picked a very bad day since Etsu has no tolerance today!"

Suzuki had sensed that what was off about the sisters was that their presences were irregular and their bodies were having a hard time processing it, but he figured that it was either out of denial or something else interfering. However, he knew that he had to give them the items he intended to give them while explaining to them what he sensed was going on with them. Kiyoko had suddenly ran on her way to where Etsu's and Yusuke's fight was without saying anything to Suzuki who had followed after her without a second thought.

'Yusuke can be such a dumbass sometimes!' thought Kiyoko. 'Though, I doubt he knows about Etsu's miscarriage and he's mourning Genkai, but still!'

Suzuki didn't bother to say anything as he was also concerned, but mostly because Etsu's energy felt like it was shifting in an unstable manner. When he and Kiyoko got there, they saw Etsu kicking Yusuke full force in the abdomen which had caused him to scream in pain while falling to the ground in a fetal position, Yusuke forcing himself up after Etsu had dared him to get up.

'For a human, Urameshi seems to have a high tolerance for pain,' thought Suzuki. 'With a kick like that, Shishiwakamaru would've been crying for mercy like the diva he is.'

Spotting a horrified Koenma, Kiyoko and Suzuki had ran over to him as Kiyoko had gotten his attention by asking him what was going on. Not paying any mind to Suzuki, Koenma had explained what went on as he had pleaded for Kiyoko to stop Etsu and Yusuke. Kiyoko looked at Etsu giving Yusuke her final attack, which she had never seen before, and knew that there was nothing she could do, Koenma freaking out when she told him.

'Here we go with Koenma overreacting again,' thought Kiyoko, rolling her eyes. 'It's not like it's as serious as I first thought.'

'It's hard to believe that Etsu and Kiyoko are related to Koenma,' thought Suzuki. 'He's as much as a diva as Shishiwakamaru is. No wonder they were tolerant with his showboating attitude.'

When Yusuke collapsed, Kiyoko had kept Koenma from rushing to see if Yusuke was alright, and he snapped at her when she told him that everything was okay.

"How can you be so calm about this?!" Koenma exclaimed. "Don't you realize that Etsu could have killed Yusuke?"

"For one thing, Koenma, Etsu would never in a gazillion years accidentally kill someone," Kiyoko replied. "Another thing, from what you had explained, it seemed that their fight happened for a reason. It's almost as if they were venting their own frustrations against each other."

"It almost seemed like she was training him at the same time," Suzuki added, Koenma finally acknowledging him. "Because it would be careless for her to use that attack on him unless she knew he could take it."

"Do I know you from somewhere?" asked Koenma.

"I was in the semi-finals yesterday," Suzuki replied. "The Beautiful Suzuki."

"Oh, so you're the joker Genkai pulverized," Koenma remarked. "It was hard to recognize you without that clown getup."

Suzuki wasn't amused as he sneered.

"I may have been clownish yesterday, but at least I'm not a diva," Suzuki retorted. "It must be nice yet boring to be waited on hand and foot."

"I'm often busy with paperwork at Spirit World and don't have the luxury of lounging around very often," Koenma protested. "And why are you with Kiyoko, might I add?"

"Cut it out, you two!" Kiyoko snapped.

Koenma and Suzuki never got the chance to respond as Kiyoko went to see if Etsu was okay and they decided to do the same.